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Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
source: newsday link
Mary Richter says her Christmas show will go on.
That's despite being slapped with violations by Lindenhurst Village officials for electrical outlets on her front lawn that she uses to power the elaborate, multicolored, musical holiday display.
Not only that, she's also in trouble for obstructing the right of way on her property with decorations.
"Even if I take it down now, I'm sure I'm still going to get fined," said Richter, whose home sits at the gateway to Lindenhurst Village at Wellwood Avenue and North Broadway. "It's a moot point so why not let everyone enjoy it?"
Richter is due in village court Jan. 12 to answer the complaint.
Shawn Cullinane, village clerk-treasurer, said officials encourage residents to celebrate the season with decorations and displays but there are rules. "Is it Santa or safety?" he said. "The last thing we want to do is disturb somebody's holiday joy, but there's a safety issue here."
Cullinane said the village has no plans to get a court order to force removal of the display - which, complete with driveway arch, covers the entire front lawn up to the roadside.
He said Richter has been "repeatedly" asked in recent years to address issues about installation of the electrical outlets and use of the right of way. The latter is land owned by the homeowner but that must be left accessible for public utilities or local governments to use for sidewalks, sewer lines and telephone poles.
This year, however, officials said they were compelled to take legal action after a neighbor complained.
"The big issue is the illegal electrical work: She has permanent electrical outlets and wiring under the ground that she has no underwriters certificate for so we have no idea if it's been done by an amateur. We don't know if it's done accurately or professionally," Cullinane said.
Richter said the five outlets were installed in 2004 during a home renovation and she has the proper underwriters certificate.
Cullinane said Richter will be able to present evidence to the judge, who will determine any punishment. But he added, "even if she had certified electrical work done and she's running it out to the right of way, that is not permitted. She'll have to address that as well."
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Posted 12/4/10 12:52 AM  |
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MrsSpring
I'm a lucky mama
Member since 1/10 7585 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
I saw this on the news last night.
did they say where this house is? I would like to go see it when im in that area.
I miss the one off dpa
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| Posted 12/4/10 7:46 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by MrsSpring
I saw this on the news last night.
did they say where this house is? I would like to go see it when im in that area.
I miss the one off dpa
its right down Wellwood right before you get into the village. Its really not that nice. just a hodge podge of light and stuff. there are so much better ones out there.
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| Posted 12/4/10 7:50 AM |
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Nifheim
allo
Member since 1/09 5476 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
North Broadway - south on wellwood after sunrise hwy after two lights (right after each other) you make the first forked right. You honestly can't miss it.
I am glad Newsday actually reported the facts on the case. Clearly stated the village tried for years to warn them and they ignored them.
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| Posted 12/4/10 8:36 AM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
I just watched the video. I am so bothered that this lady who is ONLY trying to do good (raise money for charity and make people happy) is being fined. What do they suggest, she take her fines and apply charity $. I hate when people who do good get slapped but people who do bad keep on the go... Though I do think they should come down after christmas if they arent being used.
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| Posted 12/4/10 8:41 AM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by PrincessP
I am so bothered that this lady who is ONLY trying to do good (raise money for charity and make people happy) is being fined.
Sure - but that doesnt mean she should be able to break the law and have a potential safety issue.
The 'right-of-way' issues, they're just being sticklers about. The unlicensed electrical outlets - that to me is a big deal. If one of the outlets starts a fire and goes up in flames potentially injuring someone or their house (which I think down there the houses are VERY close together) then I'm sure everyone would be on the village and would sue them for not stopping/fining the illegal work.
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| Posted 12/4/10 9:21 AM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by alli3131
its right down Wellwood right before you get into the village. Its really not that nice. just a hodge podge of light and stuff. there are so much better ones out there.
I laugh because all of the pics or videos I've seen so far are either very close up, very far away, or at weird angles so you can't really tell the mess it is. 
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| Posted 12/4/10 9:23 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by Blazesyth
Posted by alli3131
its right down Wellwood right before you get into the village. Its really not that nice. just a hodge podge of light and stuff. there are so much better ones out there.
I laugh because all of the pics or videos I've seen so far are either very close up, very far away, or at weird angles so you can't really tell the mess it is.
and I guess I think its more of a mess than it might be because I see it all year round. So I know what a mess it looks like in June. Like that santa on the roof.....I think that is one of the things that is there for Xmas in july
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| Posted 12/4/10 9:27 AM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by alli3131
and I guess I think its more of a mess than it might be because I see it all year round. So I know what a mess it looks like in June. Like that santa on the roof.....I think that is one of the things that is there for Xmas in july
Me too. I usually end up driving down that way once or twice a week. DH told me no they take them down every year, but I knew he was wrong.  I also remember seeing Santa flying over the garage and the lighted carport in July.
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| Posted 12/4/10 9:31 AM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by Blazesyth
Posted by PrincessP
I am so bothered that this lady who is ONLY trying to do good (raise money for charity and make people happy) is being fined.
Sure - but that doesnt mean she should be able to break the law and have a potential safety issue.
The 'right-of-way' issues, they're just being sticklers about. The unlicensed electrical outlets - that to me is a big deal. If one of the outlets starts a fire and goes up in flames potentially injuring someone or their house (which I think down there the houses are VERY close together) then I'm sure everyone would be on the village and would sue them for not stopping/fining the illegal work.
Yeah- the electrical thing is a HUGE problem but to me it didnt seem like this fine was initiated by the whole outlet hazzard it seemed the bigger problem was that it was on town property. If the bigger problem was a fire hazzard i wouldnt think a bunch of notices would be given. More an immediate GET IT DOWN...KWIM... To me that should come before all other BS. If they ask her to take it down bc of outlet violations and that it may cause a fire...to me thats more then enough reason. I am actually surprised to see all of the houses all lit up with insane amounts of blow ups...how the hell do they not knock out the powerlines.
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| Posted 12/4/10 9:42 AM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7790 total posts
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by alli3131
Posted by MrsSpring
I saw this on the news last night.
did they say where this house is? I would like to go see it when im in that area.
I miss the one off dpa
its right down Wellwood right before you get into the village. Its really not that nice. just a hodge podge of light and stuff. there are so much better ones out there.
Seriously. It's a total eyesore IMO.
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| Posted 12/4/10 11:01 AM |
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AngnShaun
Sisters
Member since 1/10 21015 total posts
Name:
Ang
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by Blazesyth
Posted by PrincessP
I am so bothered that this lady who is ONLY trying to do good (raise money for charity and make people happy) is being fined.
Sure - but that doesnt mean she should be able to break the law and have a potential safety issue.
The 'right-of-way' issues, they're just being sticklers about. The unlicensed electrical outlets - that to me is a big deal. If one of the outlets starts a fire and goes up in flames potentially injuring someone or their house (which I think down there the houses are VERY close together) then I'm sure everyone would be on the village and would sue them for not stopping/fining the illegal work.
the article says she has the proper paperwork for the outlets and they said even if she does have that the issue is the right of way!!!
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| Posted 12/4/10 11:28 AM |
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kahlua716
3 Girls for Me!
Member since 8/07 12475 total posts
Name:
Keri
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Is this the house that leaves stuff up all year round? 
Maybe they should allow her to do it for the month of December- then impose fines for the rest of the year.
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| Posted 12/4/10 11:50 AM |
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LightUpOurLife
Totally in love
Member since 8/06 12785 total posts
Name:
Bonnie-Jean
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
It all comes down to a neighbor complaining. The article even says that notices were sent out but nothing was ever done until a neighbor complained.
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| Posted 12/4/10 11:59 AM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by AngnShaun
the article says she has the proper paperwork for the outlets and they said even if she does have that the issue is the right of way!!!
If it was certified, permitted work and she has all the paperwork - why would she NOT register it with the town?
I would guess because she had electrical work done that wouldn't be approved by the town. Whether it wouldn't be approved because a) its not safe enough or b) she put outlets on her lawn that are not allowed it doesnt really matter - the point is that it is illegal.
If they were just too lazy to mail the application and have the inspection done but everything is OK, then that's their fault and should have to pay the fine.
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| Posted 12/4/10 12:00 PM |
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Nifheim
allo
Member since 1/09 5476 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
I do feel for the woman and think she is doing a great thing but she just overdid it. I am commenting everyone on this because i hate that people are taking pathetic punches on our village for something that was only put on news for publicity/gain.
I actually all most ran over a family when driving past to pick up mail at my parents house last night. The news truck was still parked out there at 10PM and there were little kids taking pics IN THE STREET in front of the house. I had to stop and wait to clear out before i crossed. Needless to say i won't be using that block for a while.
They are finding ways to give her a summons that is what villages do when there are enough complaints issues at a property. They will fine you until you comply. After talking to a few friends over there people are just complaining about it for years. They don't like the fact she keeps stuff up too long, they don't like that every year its getting bigger, she spread out to where a sidewalk should be on someone else's side yard, traffic is kinda icky on that block to begin with so its worse now (which honestly i really think that is a bit much to complain about) and yes the houses are somewhat tight on that block so if you live near it the lights are annoying.
The electrical issues is another, she just did a dormer a few years back and i am not sure if she upgraded her electrical enough to handle all those lights. From what I gather the buried lines are sketchy and the plugs are overloaded but I am not sure if this is truthful or not get conflicting gossip on that one.
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| Posted 12/4/10 12:10 PM |
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JoJo2010
Happy Family
Member since 8/09 6266 total posts
Name:
JO
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by MrsSpring
I saw this on the news last night.
did they say where this house is? I would like to go see it when im in that area.
I miss the one off dpa
WAIT the one off of DPA is gone?! I told DH we have to go this weekend!
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| Posted 12/6/10 12:33 PM |
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
DH and I took DS here last night to see what all the fuss was about. There were lots of people who were there with kids, and the lady and I think it was her son had a bunch of "paparazzi" around them taking pics. She was going on about how she had been in touch with all the major networks about her story.
We liked how they had the lights going along to the music and DH still was saying how he would love to have all these lights on our house (yeah right!!!!).
I think there are probably worse things out there the town should be focusing on this year, like all the drunk drivers. But that's another thread!!
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| Posted 12/12/10 7:33 AM |
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PrincessP
Big sister!!!!!!!!!!
Member since 12/05 17450 total posts
Name:
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
Posted by mzsocialworker1
DH and I took DS here last night to see what all the fuss was about. There were lots of people who were there with kids, and the lady and I think it was her son had a bunch of "paparazzi" around them taking pics. She was going on about how she had been in touch with all the major networks about her story.
We liked how they had the lights going along to the music and DH still was saying how he would love to have all these lights on our house (yeah right!!!!).
I think there are probably worse things out there the town should be focusing on this year, like all the drunk drivers. But that's another thread!!
You and I think too much alike....
that was my first thought...worry about the drunks driving backwards on the roads and then we can discuss Christmas lights. Until then Happy Holidays...the kids are enjoying it!
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| Posted 12/12/10 2:37 PM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
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Mama Cranky
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
I don't think it would be very Christmassy to see Santa go up in flames.
If she has wiring issue-that's that IMO.
As a neighbor, I would really get annoyed if she kept it up year round.
As a kid-these are the types of house I loved to go see at Christmas.
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| Posted 12/12/10 9:58 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Lindenhurst Christmas House to Stay....article from Newsday..
I love seeing grand lighting displays, but at the same time I really feel for the neighbor who has to deal with the traffic, lights at all hours of the day/night, music, and blinking lights.
With that said, I think the homeowner should keep the right of way clear. She or the person who did the electrical work should have known that they needed permits for the electrical work.
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| Posted 12/12/10 10:11 PM |
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